Pattaya man stabs British tourist in Pattaya over drug dispute
A Thai man stabbed a British national outside a convenience store in Pattaya in the early hours of today, February 13, claiming the foreigner punched him and broke his tooth after he insisted he was not a drug dealer.
Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were alerted to the incident at 1.29am at a convenience store along Jomtien Beach Road. Police arrived at the scene accompanied by rescue workers to investigate the stabbing.
Upon arrival, officers found a 23 year old British man, identified only as Daniel, suffering from a stab wound to his left thigh. He lost a significant amount of blood and appeared to be under the influence of intoxicants. Rescue workers administered first aid before rushing him to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment.
The suspected attacker, 22 year old Thai national Nattawat, was apprehended at the scene with assistance from witnesses. The knife allegedly used in the attack was later discovered inside a rubbish bin outside the convenience store.
According to Nattawat, Daniel and another foreign friend approached him and attempted to buy drugs. He claimed he told them he was not a dealer, which allegedly angered the pair. Nattawat said Daniel then punched him in the face, resulting in a broken tooth.
The Thai suspect admitted that he followed the two foreigners into the convenience store and stabbed Daniel during the confrontation.
A shop employee told police that the British man ran into the store appearing frightened, before Nattawat entered shortly after and attacked him with a knife.
Police took Nattawat into custody for further questioning. Officers are waiting for Daniel’s condition to stabilise so they can obtain his version of events. As of now, no official charges have been announced against either party, and investigations into the altercation remain ongoing.
The incident follows several recent violent disputes involving bladed weapons in Thailand, including a fatal stabbing in Samut Prakan last week involving a teenage suspect and a police officer. The teenager claimed that the officer cut in front of his motorcycle before colliding into his bike, leading to the anger and fatal attack.
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